Abstract

1. Isolated nuclei from starved rats showed a lowered incorporation of [14C]UMP into RNA. 2. The Mg2+-dependent incorporation was decreased by 30% after 1 day of starvation, but incorporation in the presence of Mn2+ and ammonium sulphate decreased only after longer periods of starvation. 3. RNA synthesis by nuclei in the presence of excess of added RNA polymerase was unchanged after 1 day of starvation and was inhibited by 20% after 4 days. 4. The capacity of nuclei to bind actinomycin D was unchanged after 1 day and was decreased by 20% after 4 days of starvation.